1.
time limit, set period, class period
A fixed or designated period of time. In school contexts, it refers to a class period (first period, second period, etc.).
一時限目は数学だ。
First period is math.
今日は三時限まで授業がある。
I have classes up to third period today.
2.
timed, time-limited (as a prefix)
Used as a prefix to indicate that something is set to operate within a time limit or is triggered by a timer, as in a time bomb or time-limited legislation.
時限爆弾が仕掛けられているという通報があった。
There was a report that a time bomb had been planted.
この制度は時限措置として導入された。
This system was introduced as a time-limited measure.
時限立法は一定期間が過ぎると自動的に効力を失う。
Time-limited legislation automatically loses its force after a certain period has passed.
政府は復興支援のための時限措置を五年間延長することを決めた。
The government decided to extend the time-limited reconstruction support measures by five years.
USAGE:
Sense 1 (class period): In Japanese schools, classes are numbered as 一時限 (first period), 二時限 (second period), etc. The colloquial abbreviation 一限, 二限 is also very common.
Sense 2 (time-limited prefix): 時限 is used as a prefix to mark something as having a built-in time limit:
- 時限爆弾: time bomb
- 時限措置: time-limited measure
- 時限立法: sunset legislation
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 一時限目: first period
- 時限爆弾: time bomb
- 時限措置: time-limited measure
- 時限立法: sunset legislation